Related Searches
Nearby Words
Synonyms

stretching

 [strech]   Origin

stretch

   [strech]
verb (used with object)
1.
to draw out or extend (oneself, a body, limbs, wings, etc.) to the full length or extent (often followed by out): to stretch oneself out on the ground.
2.
to hold out, reach forth, or extend (one's arm, head, etc.).
3.
to extend, spread, or place (something) so as to reach from one point or place to another: to stretch a rope across a road.
4.
to draw tight or taut: to stretch the strings of a violin.
5.
to lengthen, widen, distend, or enlarge by tension: to stretch a rubber band.
EXPAND
6.
to draw out, extend, or enlarge unduly: The jacket was stretched at the elbows.
7.
to extend, force, or make serve beyond the normal or proper limits; strain: to stretch the imagination; to stretch the facts; to stretch food to feed extra guests; to stretch money to keep within a budget.
8.
to extend or strain (oneself) to the utmost, as by intense exertion; tax.
9.
to increase the quantity of (a beverage, food, paint, etc.) by dilution or admixing: They caught the bartender stretching the gin with water.
10.
Radio and Television. to prolong or slow down (action or pace) in order not to end too early: to stretch a show; to stretch the action two minutes.
COLLAPSE
Stretching Exercises www.lifescript.com Discover 7 Culprits Of Backaches And How To Avoid Them.
Ad
verb (used without object)
11.
to recline at full length (usually followed by out): to stretch out on a couch.
12.
to extend the hand or to reach, as for something.
13.
to extend over a distance or area or in a particular direction: The forest stretches for miles.
14.
to extend in time: His memory stretches back to his early childhood.
15.
to stretch oneself by extending the limbs and lengthening the muscles to the utmost: to stretch and yawn.
EXPAND
16.
to become stretched, or admit of being stretched, to greater length, width, etc., as any elastic or ductile material.
17.
Radio and Television. to reduce the pace or slow down the action of a radio or television program.
COLLAPSE

:10

:09

:08

:07

:06

:05

:04

:03

:02

:01

Stretching is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
noun
18.
an act or instance of stretching.
19.
the state of being stretched.
20.
a continuous length, distance, tract, or expanse: a stretch of meadow.
21.
Horse Racing. the backstretch or homestretch of a racetrack.
22.
Baseball. a short windup, usually used to keep base runners from taking too long a lead, in which the pitcher starts the pitching motion with hands together at the waist, raises them to or above the head, brings them back to the waist, and, after a momentary pause, delivers the ball.
EXPAND
23.
an extent in time; duration: for a stretch of ten years.
24.
elasticity or capacity for extension.
25.
Slang. a term of imprisonment: He's doing a stretch in the pen.
26.
the act or fact of stretching or extending something beyond reasonable or proper limits: You wouldn't call her a genius by any stretch of the imagination. It's quite a stretch for me to believe his story.
27.
(initial capital letter) a nickname for a tall, lanky person.
COLLAPSE
adjective
28.
made of synthetic or composite yarn having a sufficiently low denier or having been subjected to any of several special mechanical treatments to permit increased elasticity: stretch girdle; stretch pants.
29.
(of yarn) modified or twisted so as to afford high elasticity.
30.
Also, stretched. of or pertaining to a conveyance, as a limousine or airliner, whose seating area is expanded to carry more passengers or afford greater legroom and to allow space for other comforts and amenities.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English strecchen (v.), Old English streccan; cognate with Dutch strekken, German strecken; akin to Old English stræc firm, hard, Middle Dutch strac stiff. See stare, stark

Related forms
stretch·a·ble, adjective
stretch·a·bil·i·ty, noun
non·stretch·a·ble, adjective
pre·stretch, verb (used with object), noun
un·stretch·a·ble, adjective
EXPAND
un·stretched, adjective
well-stretched, adjective
COLLAPSE

Synonyms
5. See lengthen. 11. lie down. 20. range, reach, compass.

Antonyms
5, 16. shorten, shrink.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To stretching
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

stretch
1540s, "act of stretching," from stretch (v.); meaning "unbroken continuance of some activity" is first recorded 1680s; meaning "straightaway of a race course" (e.g. home stretch) is recorded from 1841.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

stretch definition


  1. n.
    a period of time. (Folksy.) : Let's talk here for a stretch and then go up and see if dinner's ready.
  2. n.
    a prison term. : I was away for a stretch of about seven years.
  3. in.
    to hang (as with a death sentence). : You will stretch for this, Lefty!
  4. tv.
    to cut or dilute a drug. : Let's stretch this stuff, sell it, and then blow town.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriThesaurus
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
About Privacy Policy Terms of Use API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT
How many words do you know? FIND OUT